We had so much fun the whole week before and after hitting this city.
To check out our preplanning, click here, Day 1 click here, and Day 2 pt 1 Myrtle Beach and Charleston, click the city names.
(Prints of the photo below, because I'm in love with it, are available here.)
Savannah was a great place to be immersed in Southern Gothic-ness and it's own definite culture. We've heard so many things from friends in the past, and were definitely looking forward to this leg of our East Coast Road Trip.
One of my old coworkers, Paige, had given some great tips. She went to Savannah College of Art and Design, and ended up having her wedding there during the time that we worked together. Everywhere we walked, we would see the SCAD logo and various parts of the campus.
For hotels in Savannah - cannot recommend Mansion on Forsyth Park more. We'd had a relatively smooth ride in from Charleston, but were more than ready to check in to this luxurious place. There was Versace furniture and flavored water and apples we snacked on, in the lobby. If you walk through the lobby out the back, there is this gorgeous pool you can take a dip in.
We got asked later that night (when spontaneously chatting with a couple near us, also watching the sun set) why we picked this hotel, rather than one of the many located at the River. If the above details aren't enough, here are some of the reasons we gave them. When Mark had been here in the past for rugby, he remembered Forsyth Park fondly. We also knew there would be a Farmers Market there in the morning (it's every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), so we could just walk across the street and get breakfast there. And as it would turn out, we would also see the start of the Savannah Mile Run that morning. We still enjoy remembering a group of probably coworkers, all in yellow shirts, who started out walking, and later we saw ending the run walking, having a great time the whole way.
We also ended up finding out that the hotel has a complimentary shuttle to their sister property, The Bohemian located on the Riverfront at Bay Street. It runs every half an hour on a first come first serve basis. We ended up going there to see the sun set, with a great view from their rooftop bar. To be able to go back to a quiet room, away from the craziness of the Riverwalk after a night out, was great. And the most incredible soaking tub was in our room, waiting.
(P.S. Don't pay for valet, there is sufficient on-street parking available around the park and side streets and we ended up finding parking on the same block as the hotel, every time we needed it)
Our walking route was along Bull and Whitaker from the Park towards the River and back.
Made a stop at a friendly looking bookstore called E Shaver Booksellers, which had an attached oasis called the Tea Room. They had Outlander-themed tea! (for anyone who remembers that show and the Jamie character fondly) As their website says, first and foremost, they love tea. Mark had a bit of a cough, so they made a batch of 'Emperor's Bride' with a strong recommendation that it would help him feel better, and it did!
Dinner was at Olde Pink House & Planters Tavern at 23 Abercorn Street, which I'm told, is always busy. I had pulled up the restaurant on my phone as I'm apt to do sometimes when I want to go somewhere nice but hadn't thought to make a reservation yet. I'll literally do it in the parking lot right before going in, just to have that to say to the host. But this time, I couldn't do it. There were not open tables, or so we thought. It's a huge, historic place (16,000 square feet) that any host or hostess will give you a tour to show you all the wings and different facts that have occured there. Despite not having even a last minute reservation, we walked in and were treated really well. We were walked around and given descriptions of every room, and it turns out a table opened up as soon as we got back to the entrance.
We were seated in an old bank vault room. It was wonderful. I got the pork, he got the chicken, we both got collard greens and a delicious sweet potato with pecan brown sugar sauce on the side. In total it was around $50 with drinks.
We strolled to the Riverwalk and saw the boats and people milling around. Last time Mark was here, his rugby teammates had spent more of there time here near the water. He'd gone to Smiles Dueling Piano Bar so we stopped and listened for a minute. Got a signature pina colada frozen daquiri from Wet Willies and sat in the park, watching people with glow sticks running around.
The next morning, we walked outside to see this race setting off. So many participants going by the front of the hotel, right at that moment! We crossed that street and walked into the park, strolling through the stalls of the Farmer's Market. I HIGHLY recommend one vendor, Alake's GA Pecan's. His 'Sweet, Salty, Buttery' 2 oz bag of pecans is their best seller, and addictive.
We snacked and munched on our way past the park (the opposite way from our stroll last night to the river), towards Foxy Loxy Cafe. Artwork litters the walls. We got sausage breakfast kolaches from someone named Chloe, and sat in their main seating area along with a few student-looking patrons perched at their various laptops.
After all that walking, we were ready to relax in our room and start thinking about the next destination. And good thing, because it started to rain. Our next city was Panama City Beach, Florida (DAY 4), so it was about to be a long drive.
*A recommendation for the best road stop you could imagine- is on the way out of Savannah heading South- the Smallest Church in America in Darien, GA.
